The History:
It started on a napkin. During the Spring of 1977 two people paths crossed at UW-Platteville. I'm not sure how these individuals met, or why, but that moment of time has affected countless individuals.
During that Spring, Mike Pierce & Jim Nottoli paths crossed. The start of UW-Platteville RugbyTeam started. Jim Nottoli was from Pickard 4 th West, and Pierce was from Wilgus 1st West. The recruiting for that first team originated from those wings of those two dorms. Adds were place in the “Orange & Blue,” a weekly activity sheet of happenings on campus, to collect further interest and potential ruggers.
The next challenge was trying to find a location to hold practice. Having practice was only complicated by the fact that only two people, Mike & Jim, knew how to play the game. But the question of “where” would be politically complicated. The team needed to be recognized by UWP to get permission to hold practice.
This small core group of individuals would become a think tank. Sit around and drink vast quantities of beers socialize, coming up w/ ideas on how to get this club established, recognized, and in the good political graces of UWP, so the club could receive financial funding from UWP and practice on campus.. The first task of getting recognized was getting a professor to be an advisor. ( I think he was a chemistry prof?)
While Jim & Mike were attempting to develop the players as rugby players, getting the rugby club recognized was still a debate. A “Charter” was created and presented to UWP. This ‘Charter' unbeknownst to that first team would become the political foundation of UWP Rugby for the next several decades. This charter gave us the rights to practice as an organized group on Campus, and attempt to receive financial funding.
The Rugby Pitch: ‘The Driving Range ,' as the area is now known, was established as our first legal pitch. In 1977 it was a ‘cow pasture' and the first scrums were a challenge against the bovines. UWP presented $500.00 to the Rugby Team, and miscellaneous items were able to be purchased. Rugby balls were rare and very expensive. The Rugger's received the ‘old UWP soccer' jerseys, the jerseys lasted only one game; those jerseys were the original ‘tear-aways'. Most of the games/practices were played in sweatshirts, we would call the other team the day before the match and ask “what color are your jerseys?” so the appropriate color sweatshirt, dark or light colored, could be worn.
That first Spring Semester consisted of 3 games, Dubuque City Club, Chicago Lions 7 th side, Jim Nottoli's former team, and St Loras College of Dubuque . Our only victory that year came against St Loras College. Our first overnight trip was against the Chicago Lions. We were spanked, but mostly we were upset because the Chicago Lions failed to “call upon UWP-Rugby to sing a song.” We survived. That night, after the Lion's game, we all crashed on the floor of Mom & Dad Pierce household who lived in the Chicago area; not a pretty sight in the morning.
The history of P-Ville Rugby Team as recalled by Dave “biggs' Bieganski with consideration to the “ Buffalo Theory.”
The Buffalo Theory
(In one episode of ‘Cheers’, Cliff is seated at the bar describing the Buffalo Theory to his buddy, Norm. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the concept explained any better that this…..)
“Well you see, Norm, it’s like this….A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the lowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells first, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.” |
